Supplemental starting system

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing supplemental power to start one or more cranking motors. The supplemental starting system includes a starting-signal isolator configured to connect to one or more electrical starting-signal wires providing starting signal to one or more cranking motors, a resetting relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator, a programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay, a supplemental battery relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC, a supplemental battery electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay, and a positive output-terminal electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay. When an output of the starting-signal isolator is higher than a threshold voltage, the resetting relay and the supplemental battery relay are configured to be in a close state, so that the supplemental starting system is configured to provide electricity to one of the one or more cranking motors.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/806,177, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office onFeb. 15, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/880,232, filedwith the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 30, 2019,both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to vehicles or vessels of the type that includeone or more internal combustion engines, one or more cranking motors,and a primary battery normally used to power the cranking motor. Inparticularly, this disclosure relates to improvements to such systemthat increase the reliability of engine starting.

2. Background Information

A starter that fails to crank an engine or cranks the engine too slowlymay be caused by a low charged battery and/or under extremeenvironmental conditions, for example but not limited to, lowtemperatures. The proliferation of accessories or failing components ina vehicle or a vessel can place a significant load on a battery to thepoint that the battery will not start an engine when it is needed.

During starting, some starting systems of the vehicles or vessels failto be monitored. Some starting systems fail to communicate with thevehicles or vessels. Some starting systems fail to perform diagnosticsor reset the starting system when something is wrong.

Some vehicles or vessels may have one or more engines. Some startingsystems fail to start the one or more engines in an organized manner.When an error occurs during starting one engine, some starting systemsfail to reset itself.

Some vehicles or vessels may incorporate digital switching to starttheir cranking motor/engines, which may be an obstacle for some existingsupplemental starting systems.

The present disclosure describes a supplemental starting system,improving the starting of one or more engines of a vehicle or vessel andaddressing at least some of the drawbacks listed above.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes a supplemental starting system forproviding supplemental power to start one or more engines. Thesupplemental starting system includes a first supplemental startingswitch, and a first resetting relay electrically connecting to the firstsupplemental starting switch. The supplemental starting system includesa first programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting tothe first resetting relay, and a first supplemental battery relayelectrically connecting to the first supplemental starting switch andthe first PLC. The supplemental starting system also includes asupplemental battery comprising a positive terminal electricallyconnecting to the first supplemental battery relay, a first positiveoutput-terminal electrically connecting to the first supplementalbattery relay, and a first negative output-terminal electricallyconnecting to a negative terminal of the supplemental battery. When thefirst supplemental starting switch is in a close state, the firstresetting relay is configured to be in a close state, the first PLC isconfigured to reset, and the first supplemental battery relay isconfigured to be in a close state. When the first supplemental startingswitch is in an open state, the first resetting relay is configured tobe in an open state and the first PLC is configured to be in a workingmode.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method for providing asupplementary starting system to start at least one cranking motor. Themethod includes setting a first supplemental switch of a supplementalstarting system in a close state, and setting a first resetting relay inan open state, wherein the first resetting relay electrically connectsto the first supplemental starting switch. The method includes resettinga PLC electrically connects to the first resetting relay, and setting afirst supplemental battery relay in a close state, wherein the firstsupplemental battery relay electrically connects to the firstsupplemental starting switch and the first PLC. The method furtherincludes connecting a positive terminal of a supplemental battery to afirst positive output-terminal of the supplemental starting system,wherein a negative terminal of the supplemental battery is configured toconnect to a first negative output-terminal of the supplemental startingsystem. The method further includes providing electricity to start afirst cranking motor of a first engine, wherein a positive terminal ofthe first cranking motor is configured to connect to the first positiveoutput-terminal of the supplemental starting system, and a negativeterminal of the first cranking motor is configured to connect to thefirst negative output-terminal of the supplemental starting system.

The present disclosure describes a supplemental starting system forproviding supplemental power to start one or more cranking motors. Thesupplemental starting system includes a starting-signal isolatorconfigured to connect to one or more electrical starting-signal wiresproviding starting signal to one or more cranking motors. Thesupplemental starting system includes a resetting relay electricallyconnecting to the starting-signal isolator and a programmable logiccontroller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay. Thesupplemental starting system includes a supplemental battery relayelectrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC anda supplemental battery comprising a positive terminal electricallyconnecting to the supplemental battery relay. The supplemental startingsystem includes a positive output-terminal electrically connecting tothe supplemental battery relay. When an output of the starting-signalisolator is higher than a threshold voltage, the resetting relay isconfigured to be in a close state and the supplemental battery relay isconfigured to be in a close state, so that the supplemental startingsystem is configured to provide electricity to one of the one or morecranking motors.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method for providing asupplemental starting system to start one or more cranking motors. Themethod includes receiving, by a starting-signal isolator of asupplemental starting system, wherein the starting-signal isolator isconfigured to connect to one or more electrical starting signal wireswhich provide starting signal to one or more cranking motors. The methodincludes when one of the one or more electrical starting signal wireshas the high voltage signal, outputting, by the starting-signal isolatorof the supplemental starting system, a high voltage signal and setting aresetting relay in an open state, wherein the resetting relayelectrically connects to the starting-signal isolator. The methodincludes resetting a first programmable logic controller (PLC)electrically connects to the resetting relay and setting a supplementalbattery relay in a close state, wherein the supplemental battery relayelectrically connects to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC. Themethod includes electrically connecting a positive terminal of asupplemental battery to a positive output-terminal of the supplementalstarting system; and providing electricity to start one of the one ormore cranking motors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for starting one or morecranking motors.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for starting two crankingmotors.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a supplemental starting system forproviding supplemental power to start one or more engines.

FIG. 3B is a schematic electrical diagram of a supplemental startingsystem for providing supplemental power to start one or more engines.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a supplemental starting system forproviding supplemental power to start one or more engines.

FIGS. 5-7 are flow diagrams of a method for providing a supplementarystarting system to start at least one cranking motor.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment for providingsupplemental power to one or more cranking motors.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment for providingsupplemental power to one or more cranking motors.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of one embodiment for a main switchcontroller.

FIG. 10B is a schematic diagram of another embodiment for a main switchcontroller.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a supplementalstarting system for providing supplemental power to start one or morecranking motors.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a starting-signalisolator.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of one implementation of thestarting-signal isolator described in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of one implementation of thestarting-signal isolator described in FIG. 12.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are embodiments of a connector for the starting-signalisolator described in FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a schematic electrical diagram of a supplemental startingsystem for providing supplemental power to start one or more engines.

FIGS. 17-18 are flow diagrams of a method for providing a supplementarystarting system to start one or more cranking motors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will now be described in detail hereinafter withreference to the accompanied drawings, which form a part of the presentdisclosure, and which show, by way of illustration, specific examples ofembodiments. Please note that the present disclosure may, however, beembodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, the covered orclaimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limitedto any of the embodiments to be set forth below. Please also note thatthe present disclosure may be embodied as methods, devices, components,or systems. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may, forexample, take the form of hardware, software, firmware or anycombination thereof.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meaningssuggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning.Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in one implementation” asused herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment orimplementation and the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in anotherimplementation” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a differentembodiment or implementation. It is intended, for example, that claimedsubject matter includes combinations of exemplary embodiments orimplementations in whole or in part.

In general, terminology may be understood at least in part from usage incontext. For example, terms, such as “and”, “or”, or “and/or,” as usedherein may include a variety of meanings that may depend at least inpart upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” ifused to associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B,and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here usedin the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” or “at leastone” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may beused to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singularsense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures orcharacteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms, such as “a”, “an”,or “the”, again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or toconvey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. Inaddition, the term “based on” or “determined by” may be understood asnot necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may,instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarilyexpressly described, again, depending at least in part on context.

The present disclosure describes a supplemental starting system to startone or more cranking motors of one or more engines in some applications,for example but not limited to, a heavy duty vehicle or a vessel inmarine applications with one or more engines.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, a supplemental starting system 110may be used to provide starting power to one or more cranking motorsconnecting to one or more engines. A cranking motor, also known as astarter or a starter motor, is powered by electricity and is used torotate an engine so as to initiate the engine's operation. In oneimplementation, the one or more cranking motors may be connected in adaisy-chain pattern. In another implementation, there may be one or aplurality of cranking motors, for example but not limited to, two,three, four, six, ten, and twelve.

The supplemental starting system 110 and a main starting battery 120 mayelectrically connect to a main switch controller 130. The main switchcontroller 130 may electrically connect to one or more cranking motors170, 172, and 174. The one or more cranking motors 170, 172, and 174 mayphysically connect to their corresponding engines 171, 173, and 175,respectively. The connection between cranking motors and engines mayinclude one or more belts or gears.

The main starting battery 120 may be a main battery of a vehicle orvessel. For example, the main starting battery 120 may be a deep-cyclelead-acid battery or Lithium-ion battery. The voltage of the mainstarting battery 120 may be 12V, 24V, 36V, or 48V.

The main switch controller 130 may control the connections between thesupplemental starting system 110 and the main starting battery 120, andthe one or more cranking motors. The main switch controller 130 mayinclude one or more battery switches to control the connections.

As an example but not a limitation, one embodiment of a starting systemto start two cranking motors is described in FIG. 2. The starting systemmay include a supplemental starting system 210, a main starting battery220, a main switch controller 230, a first cranking motor 270, and asecond cranking motor 272.

The supplemental starting system 210 may have a supplemental battery218. Being an example but not a limitation, the supplemental battery 218may include one or more capacitors or any other type of devices to storeenergy. The capacitor may include, for example but not limited to, asupercapacitor.

In one embodiment, the supplemental battery 218 may include a capacitor.The capacitor may be, for example but not limited to, a double layercapacitor or an electrochemical capacitor. For example but not limitedto, in some systems, the capacitor may have a capacitance of 500 farads,a stored energy capacity of 120 kilojoules, an internal resistance at 25degrees Celsius of 0.006 ohms. In other systems, the capacitor may, forexample but not limited to, have a capacitance greater than about 149farads, and an internal resistance at about 25 degrees Celsiuspreferably less than about 0.008 ohms, and more preferably less thanabout 0.006 ohms, and most preferably less than about 0.003 ohms. Theenergy storage capacity is preferably greater than 15 kJ. Suchcapacitors provide the advantage of delivering high currents at lowtemperatures and relatively low voltages because of their low internalresistance.

Though not shown, the electrical system of the vehicle or vessel may,for example but not limited to, include a generator or alternator drivenby the engine when running to charge the supplemental battery 218 and/orthe main starting battery 120. The charging process of the supplementalbattery 218 may be monitored and/or regulated by a control unit 219 ofthe supplemental starting system 210. In one implementation, the controlunit 219 may include a programmable logic controller (PLC) ormicroprocessor based charge controller (MCC). In another implementation,the control unit 219 may communicate with other components inside thesupplemental starting system, and/or may communicate with the mainswitch controller, and/or may communicate with the cranking motors andengines.

The supplemental starting system 210 may have a first supplementalstarting switch 211 and a second supplemental starting switch 212. Thefirst supplemental starting switch 211 may control the electrical powerat a first positive output-terminal 216, which may be further controlledand switched by the main switch controller 230 to electrically connectto a positive terminal 270 b of a first cranking motor 270. The secondsupplemental starting switch 212 may control the electrical power at asecond positive output-terminal 217, which may be further controlled andswitched by the main switch controller 230 to electrically connect to apositive terminal 272 b of a second cranking motor 272.

In another implementation, the supplemental starting system 210 may havea single supplemental starting switch, which may control the electricalpower at both the first positive output-terminal and the second positiveoutput-terminal. Optionally, when the single supplemental startingswitch is in a close state, the control unit of the supplementalstarting system may be configured to supply electrical power to theplurality of positive output-terminals in a sequential pattern. Forexample but not limited to, when the single supplemental starting switchis placed in the close state, the control unit 219 of the supplementalstarting system may supply electrical power to the first positiveoutput-terminals, so as to be configured to start the first crankingmotor. The control unit 219 may constantly monitor the condition of thefirst cranking motor and/or the first engine to determine whether thefirst cranking motor and/or the first engine is successfully started,for example but not limited to, by monitoring a voltage between apositive terminal and a negative terminal of the supplemental battery218, and/or by monitoring a voltage between the positive terminal 270 band the negative terminal 270 a of the first cranking motor 270, and/orby monitoring the running condition of the first engine (for example, anengine rotational speed and an engine output torque). When the controlunit determines that the first cranking motor is successfully started,the control unit may provide a first control signal to stop providingelectrical power to the first positive output-terminal 216, and then thecontrol unit may provide a second control signal to begin providingelectrical power to the second positive output-terminal 217 to start thesecond cranking motor 272. The control unit 219 may constantly monitorthe condition of the second cranking motor and/or the second engine todetermine whether the second cranking motor and/or the second engine issuccessfully started. When the control unit determines that the secondcranking motor and/or the second engine is successfully started, thecontrol unit may provide a third control signal to stop providingelectrical power to the second positive output-terminal 217. In oneimplementation, after the first and second cranking motors/engines aresuccessfully started, the control unit may provide a fourth signal tobegin a charging process of the supplemental battery 218.

The supplemental starting system 210 may have a single negativeoutput-terminal 215. The negative output-terminal 215 may electricallyconnect to a negative terminal 270 a of the first cranking motor 270 anda negative terminal 272 a of the second cranking motor 272. In oneimplementation, the negative output-terminal 215 may be controlled bythe main switch controller 230 to electrically connect to the negativeterminal 270 a of the first cranking motor 270 and the negative terminal272 a of the second cranking motor 272. In another implementation, thesupplemental starting system 210 may have a first negativeoutput-terminal and a second negative output-terminal, which may becontrolled by the main switch controller to electrically connect to thenegative terminal 270 a of the first cranking motor 270 and the negativeterminal 272 a of the second cranking motor 272, respectively.

The main starting battery 220 may have a positive terminal 226 and anegative terminal 225. The positive terminal 226 may, via the mainswitch controller 230, electrically connect to the positive terminal 270b of the first cranking motor 270 and the positive terminal 272 b of thesecond cranking motor 272. The negative terminal 225 may, via the mainswitch controller 230, electrically connect to the negative terminal 270a of the first cranking motor 270 and the negative terminal 272 a of thesecond cranking motor 272.

The main switch controller 230 may include two battery switches, a firstbattery switch 240 and a second battery switch 250, each of which may beresponsible for one of the two cranking motors/engines. In oneimplementation, the two battery switches 240 and 250 may be coupled,either electrically or mechanically, to an engine ignition switch. Whenthe engine ignition switch turns on, the two battery switches may turnto a specific position, either at the same time or one-by-one in asequential order. In another implementation, the two battery switchesmay be uncoupled from each other, and one battery switch may turn to aspecific position independently from the other battery switch.

The first battery switch 240 may be a rotary switch or a rotary relay,and include a common pole 244, a first positon 241, a second position242, and a third position 243. The common pole 244 may electricallyconnect to the positive terminal 270 b of the first cranking motor 270,and may be switched to electrically connect to any one of the first,second, and third positions.

The first position 241 may electrically connect to the first positiveoutput-terminal 216 of the supplemental starting system 210. As such,when the common pole 244 connects to the first position 241, the systemis configured to use the supplemental starting system 210 to provideelectric power to start the first cranking motor 270.

The second position 242 may not electrically connect to either thesupplemental battery or the main starting battery. As such, when thecommon pole 244 connects to the second position 242, the system isconfigured to be in a non-starting state, wherein neither thesupplemental starting system nor the main starting battery may provideelectrical power to start the first cranking motor 270.

The third position 243 may electrically connect to the first positiveterminal 226 of the main starting battery 220. As such, when the commonpole 244 connects to the third position 243, the system is configured touse the main starting battery 220 to provide electric power to start thefirst cranking motor 270.

In another implementation, the first battery switch 240 may include afourth position. The fourth position may electrically connect to boththe first positive output-terminal 216 of the supplemental startingsystem 210 and the first positive terminal 226 of the main startingbattery 220. As such, when the common pole 244 connects to the fourthposition, the system is configured to use both the supplemental startingsystem 210 and the main starting battery 220 to provide electric powerto start the first cranking motor 270. This configuration may be usedunder certain circumstances, for example but not limited to, theremaining stored energy of the supplemental starting system 210 and/orthe main starting battery 220 is lower than a certain threshold.

The second battery switch 250 may be a rotary switch or a rotary relay,may include a common pole 254, a first positon 251, a second position252, and a third position 253, and may electrically connect to otherterminals similarly as the first battery switch 240. In anotherimplementation, the second battery switch 250 may include a fourthposition, which may connect to other terminals similar to the firstbattery switch 240 as described above.

The present disclosure describes another embodiment of a supplementalstarting system 300 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The supplementalstarting system may include a first supplemental starting switch 310, afirst resetting relay 330, a first programmable logic controller (PLC)360, a first supplemental battery relay 340, a supplemental battery 380,a first positive output-terminal 392, and a negative output-terminal391.

Optionally, the supplemental starting system 300 may further include atransorb 350. A transorb may be a transient voltage suppression diode,which may be used to protect sensitive electronics from voltage spikesinduced by another source. The transorb will shunt excessive currentwhen the voltage of the terminals of the transorb exceeds a certainpreset level. In one implementation, the certain preset level may be avoltage higher than the voltage of the supplemental battery. For examplebut not limited to, the certain preset level may be 30V, 60V or 100Vwhen the voltage of the supplemental battery is 12V or 24V.

More detailed description of a PLC controlled supplemental startingsystem is included in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/829,371, filed onAug. 18, 2015 by the same Applicant as the present application, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The resetting relay 330 may solve a drawback that the PLC 360 wouldsense the next engine start event, the fluctuation in voltage, andinitiate an error code as a potential fault in the system. When thefirst supplemental starting switch 310 is depressed, the resetting relay330 may reset the PLC, as to clear false error codes. Once the lastengine has started, the PLC may take over and allow a charging processof the supplemental battery 380 to begin and/or to finish.

The first supplemental starting switch 310 may be a push button or a keyswitch, and may have an input pin 311 and an output pin 312. The inputpin 311 may connect to a positive terminal 382 of the supplementalbattery 380. When the first supplemental starting switch 310 isdepressed, the first supplemental starting switch 310 is set in a closestate, in which the output pin 312 may electrically connect to the inputpin 311. When the first supplemental starting switch 310 is released,the first supplemental starting switch 310 is set in an open state, inwhich the output pin 312 may electrically disconnect from the input pin311. The first supplemental starting switch 310 may be a double-polesingle-throw (DPST) switch as shown in FIG. 3B. In anotherimplementation, the first supplemental starting switch 310 may be asingle-pole single-throw (SPST) switch or any other types of switches tofulfill the functions as described above.

In one implementation, the first resetting relay 330 may have a coil pin86, a common pole pin 30, a normally close pin 87A, and a normally openpin 87. The first resetting relay 330 may be a relay having a normallyclose state, i.e, when the coil pin 86 is not energized, the common polepin 30 electrically connect to the normally close pin 87A. The firstresetting relay 330 may further have a ground pin connecting to aground.

The coil pin 86 may electrically connect to the output pin 312 of thefirst supplemental starting switch 310. The common pole pin 30 may be aninput terminal for the supplemental starting system, and is configuredto electrically connect to an engine ignition pin and receive signalregarding whether the engine ignition switch is ON. In oneimplementation, when the engine ignition switch is ON, the common polepin 30 is energized with a high voltage. The high voltage may be anyvoltage larger than 2V, for example but not limited to, 12V and 24V. Inanother implementation, when the engine ignition switch is OFF, thecommon pole pin 30 is configured to have a low voltage. The low voltagemay be any voltage lower than 2V, for example but not limited to, 1V,100 mV, and zero Volt.

The first PLC may have an input pin 361 electrically connecting to thenormally close pin 87A, and an output pin 362 electrically connecting toan input pin of the transorb 350. When the input pin 361 is energizedwith a high voltage, the first PLC may be in a working state and performits normal functions. When the input pin 361 has a low voltage, the PLCmay reset and/or reboot. The low voltage may be any voltage smaller than2V, for example but not limited to, smaller than 100 milliVolt (mV) andzero Volt.

An input pin 50 of the transorb 350 may electrically connect to theoutput pin 312 of the first supplemental starting switch and the outputpin 362 of the first PLC 360. An output pin of the transorb 350 mayelectrically connect to a coil pin 341 of the first supplemental batteryrelay 340.

The first supplemental battery relay 340 may have the coil pin 341, acommon pin 342, and a normally open pin 343. When the coil pin 341 isenergized with the high voltage, the first supplemental battery relay340 is in a close state, wherein the common pin 342 may electricallyconnect to the normally open pin 343. When the coil pin 341 has the lowvoltage or zero voltage, the first supplemental battery relay 340 is inan open state, wherein the common pin 342 may electrically disconnectfrom the normally open pin 343.

The common pin 342 of the first supplemental battery relay 340 mayelectrically connect to the positive terminal 382 of the supplementalbattery 380. The normally open pin 343 may electrically connect to thefirst positive output-terminal 392. A negative terminal 381 of thesupplemental battery 380 may electrically connect to the negativeoutput-terminal 391.

When the first supplemental starting switch is depressed, the output pin312 may electrically connect to the input pin 311 and may have a highvoltage. The coil pin 86 of the first resetting relay 330 electricallyconnects to the output pin 312, so that the first resetting relay 330 isset in the open state, wherein the normally close pin 87A mayelectrically disconnect from the common pole pin 30. Consequently, theFirst PLC 360 may boot and reset. The coil pin 341 of the firstsupplemental battery relay 340 electrically connects to the output pin312, so that the first supplemental battery relay is in the close state,wherein the first positive output-terminal 392 electrically connects tothe positive terminal 382 of the supplemental battery 380. Therefore,under this condition, the supplemental starting system is configured toprovide electric power through the first negative output-terminal andthe first positive output-terminal to start a cranking motor of anengine.

When the depressed first supplemental starting switch 310 is released,the first supplemental starting switch 310 may switch to the open stateand the output pin 312 may have the low voltage or zero voltage. Thecoil pin 86 of the first resetting relay 330 electrically connects tothe output pin 312, so that the first resetting relay 330 is in theclose state and the normally close pin 87A may electrically connect tothe common pole pin 30. Consequently, the first PLC 360 may be in anormal working mode and perform its functions, one of which may be toinitiate and/or regulate the charging process of the supplementalbattery 380.

Optionally in another implementation, a diode 395 may electricallyconnect to the output pin 312 of the first supplemental starting switch310, as shown in FIG. 3B. The diode 395 may allow an electrical currentflowing from the first supplemental starting switch 310 to the firstsupplemental battery relay 340, and may block an electrical currentflowing from the first supplemental battery relay 340 to the firstsupplemental starting switch 310.

In another embodiment, a supplemental starting system 400 may have aplurality of positive output-terminals, for example but not limited to,two positive output-terminals as shown in FIG. 4. The plurality ofpositive output-terminals may provide electrical power to start aplurality of cranking motors.

The supplemental starting system 400 may include a first supplementalstarting switch 310, a first resetting relay 330, a first PLC 360, afirst supplemental battery relay 340, a supplemental battery 380, afirst positive output-terminal 392, a negative output-terminal 391, asecond supplemental starting switch 410, a second resetting relay 430, asecond PLC 460, a second supplemental battery relay 340, and a secondpositive output-terminal 492. Optionally, the supplemental startingsystem 400 may include a transorb 450.

Optionally in one implementation, the supplemental starting system mayinclude one single PLC, and the first PLC and the second PLC are thesame PLC, which may perform the functions of the first PLC 360 and thesecond PLC 460. In another implementation, the single PLC may have afirst input pin electrically connecting to an output pin of the firstresetting relay and a second input pin electrically connecting to anoutput pin of the second resetting relay.

Optionally in another implementation, the supplemental starting systemmay include one single resetting relay, and the first resetting relayand the second resetting relay are the same resetting relay. In anotherimplementation, the single resetting relay may have a first input pinelectrically connecting to an output pin of the first supplementalstarting switch and a second input pin electrically connecting to anoutput pin of the second supplemental starting switch.

Optionally in another implementation, the supplemental starting system400 may include two negative output-terminals, a first negativeoutput-terminal in pair with the first positive output-terminal and asecond negative output-terminal in pair with the second positiveoutput-terminal.

The second supplemental starting switch 410 may be a push button or keyswitch, and may have an input pin 411 and an output pin 412. The inputpin 411 may connect to a positive terminal 382 of the supplementalbattery 380. When the second supplemental starting switch 410 isdepressed, the second supplemental starting switch 410 is set in a closestate. When the second supplemental starting switch 410 is released, thesecond supplemental starting switch 310 is set in an open state.

The second resetting relay 430 may have a coil pin 486, a common polepin 30 a, a normally close pin 487A, and a normally open pin 487. Thesecond resetting relay 430 may be a relay having a normally close state,i.e, when the coil pin 486 has a low voltage, the common pole pin 30 aelectrically connect to the normally close pin 487A. The coil pin 486may electrically connect to the output pin 412 of the secondsupplemental starting switch 410. The common pole pin 30 a mayelectrically connect to the engine ignition pin and receive signalregarding whether the engine ignition switch is ON. In oneimplementation, when the engine ignition switch is ON, the common polepin 30 a is energized with a high voltage; when the engine ignitionswitch is OFF, the common pole pin 30 a has a low voltage. The highvoltage may be any voltage larger than 2V, for example but not limitedto, 12V and 24V. The low voltage may be any voltage smaller than 2V, forexample but not limited to, 1V, 100 mV, and zero Volt.

The second PLC 460 may have an input pin 461 electrically connecting tothe normally close pin 487A, and an output pin 462 electricallyconnecting to an input pin of the transorb 450. When the input pin 461is energized with the high voltage, the second PLC may be in a workingstate and perform its normal functions. When the input pin 461 is at alow voltage, the PLC may reset and/or reboot.

An input pin 450 of the transorb 450 may electrically connect to theoutput pin 412 of the second supplemental starting switch and the outputpin 462 of the first PLC 460. An output pin of the transorb 450 mayelectrically connect to a coil pin 441 of the second supplementalbattery relay 440.

The second supplemental battery relay 440 may have the coil pin 441, acommon pin 442, and a normally open pin 443. When the coil pin 441 isenergized with the high voltage, the second supplemental battery relay440 is in a close state, wherein the common pin 442 may electricallyconnect to the normally open pin 443. When the coil pin 441 has the lowvoltage or zero voltage, the second supplemental battery relay 440 is inan open state, wherein the common pin 442 may electrically disconnectfrom the normally open pin 443.

The common pin 442 of the second supplemental battery relay 440 mayelectrically connect to the positive terminal 382 of the supplementalbattery 380. The normally open pin 443 may electrically connect to thesecond positive output-terminal 492.

When the first supplemental starting switch 310 is depressed, the firstPLC 360 may boot and reset, and the first positive output-terminal 392may electrically connect to the positive terminal of the supplementalbattery to start a first cranking motor. When the first crankingmotor/engine starts and the first supplemental starting switch 310 isreleased, the first PLC 360 may be in a normal working mode and performits functions. Subsequently, when the second supplemental startingswitch 410 is depressed, the second PLC 360 may boot and reset, and thesecond positive output-terminal 392 may electrically connect to thepositive terminal of the supplemental battery to start a second crankingmotor. When the second cranking motor/engine starts and the secondsupplemental starting switch 410 is released, the second PLC 460 may bein a normal working mode and perform its functions.

The present disclosure also describe a method for providing asupplementary starting system to start one or more cranking motors. Themethod may include one or more of the following steps, as shown in FIG.5. The supplemental starting system may be either one of thesupplemental starting systems described above or a combination of anyportion of one or more of the supplemental starting systems describedabove.

Step 510: setting a first supplemental switch of a supplemental startingsystem in a close state. The supplemental starting system may includethe first supplemental switch.

Step 520: setting a first resetting relay in an open state, wherein thefirst resetting relay electrically connects to the first supplementalstarting switch. The first resetting relay may have a coil pinelectrically connecting to an output pin of the first supplementalstarting switch. In one implementation, when the first supplementalswitch of the supplemental starting system is in the close state, thefirst resetting relay is set in the open state.

Step 530: resetting a first PLC electrically connecting to the firstresetting relay. The first PLC may have an input pin electricallyconnecting to an output pin of the first resetting relay. In oneimplementation, when the first resetting relay is in the open state, theoutput pin of the first resetting relay may reset or reboot the firstPLC.

Step 540: setting a first supplemental battery relay in a close state,wherein the first supplemental battery relay electrically connects tothe first supplemental starting switch and the first PLC. The firstsupplemental battery relay may have a coil pin electrically connectingto the output pin of the first supplemental starting switch and anoutput pin of the first PLC. In one implementation, when the firstsupplemental starting switch is in the close state, the firstsupplemental battery relay is set in the close state.

Step 550: electrically connecting a positive terminal of a supplementalbattery to a first positive output-terminal of the supplemental startingsystem, wherein a negative terminal of the supplemental battery isconfigured to connect to a first negative output-terminal of thesupplemental starting system. The first supplemental battery relay mayinclude a common pin electrically connecting to the positive terminal ofthe supplemental battery of the supplemental starting system and anormally open pin electrically connecting to a first positiveoutput-terminal of the supplemental starting system. In oneimplementation, when the first supplemental battery relay is set in theclose state, the first positive output-terminal may electrically connectto the positive terminal of the supplemental battery.

Step 560: providing electricity to start a first cranking motor of afirst engine, wherein a positive terminal of the first cranking motor isconfigured to connect to the first positive output-terminal, and anegative terminal of the first cranking motor is configured to connectto the first negative output-terminal.

The present disclosure describes the method further including one ormore of the following steps, as shown in FIG. 6.

Step 610: setting the first supplemental switch in an open state. In oneimplementation, when the first supplemental switch is set in the openstate, the output pin of the first supplemental switch may electricallydisconnect from an input pin of the first supplemental switch.

Step 620: setting the first resetting relay in a close state. In oneimplementation, when the first supplemental switch is set in the openstate, the first resetting relay is set in the close state.

Step 630: putting the first PLC in a working mode. In oneimplementation, when the first resetting relay is set in the closestate, the first PLC is in the working mode.

Step 640: charging the supplemental battery. In one implementation, whenthe first PLC is in the working mode, PLC may perform its functions, forexample but not limited to, initiating a charging process of thesupplemental battery; regulating a current, a voltage, a time durationof the charging process of the supplemental battery; monitoring chargingconditions; and monitoring a temperature of the supplemental battery.

The present disclosure describes that the method may further include oneor more of the following steps, as shown in FIG. 7.

Step 710: setting a second supplemental switch of the supplementalstarting system in a close state.

Step 720: setting a second resetting relay in an open state, wherein thesecond resetting relay electrically connects to the second supplementalstarting switch. The second resetting relay may have a coil pinelectrically connecting to an output pin of the second supplementalstarting switch. In one implementation, when the second supplementalswitch of the supplemental starting system is in the close state, thesecond resetting relay is set in the open state.

Step 730: resetting a second PLC electrically connecting to the secondresetting relay. The second PLC may have an input pin electricallyconnecting to an output pin of the second resetting relay. In oneimplementation, when the second resetting relay is in the open state,the output pin of the second resetting relay may reset the second PLC.

Step 740: setting a second supplemental battery relay in a close state,wherein the second supplemental battery relay electrically connects tothe second supplemental starting switch and the second PLC. The secondsupplemental battery relay may have a coil pin electrically connectingto the output pin of the second supplemental starting switch and anoutput pin of the second PLC. In one implementation, when the secondsupplemental starting switch is in the close state, the secondsupplemental battery relay is set in the close state.

Step 750: electrically connecting the positive terminal of thesupplemental battery to a second positive output-terminal of thesupplemental starting system, wherein a negative terminal of thesupplemental battery is configured to connect to a second negativeoutput-terminal of the supplemental starting system. The secondsupplemental battery relay may include a common pin electricallyconnecting to the positive terminal of the supplemental battery of thesupplemental starting system and a normally open pin electricallyconnecting to a second positive output-terminal of the supplementalstarting system. In one implementation, when the second supplementalbattery relay is set in the close state, the second positiveoutput-terminal may electrically connect to the positive terminal of thesupplemental battery.

Step 760: providing electricity to start a second cranking motor of asecond engine, wherein a positive terminal of the second cranking motoris configured to connect to the second positive output-terminal, and anegative terminal of the second cranking motor is configured to connectto the negative output-terminal.

In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, a system 800 may include asupplemental starting system 810, a main starting battery 820, an enginestarting control 840, and one or more cranking motors connecting to oneor more engines. The engine starting control 840 may output one or morecontrol signal (842, 844, and 846) to control the starting of the one ormore cranking motors (870, 872, and 874), respectively. In oneimplementation, the engine starting control may receive electrical powerfrom the main starting battery or another separate battery.

Referring to FIG. 8, the supplemental starting system 810 may be used toprovide starting power, as a supplemental power source, to one or morecranking motors (870, 872, and 874) connecting to one or more engines(878, 873, and 875). A cranking motor, also known as a starter or astarter motor, is powered by electricity and is used to rotate an engineso as to initiate the engine's operation. In one implementation, the oneor more cranking motors may be connected in a daisy-chain pattern. Inanother implementation, there may be one or a plurality of crankingmotors, for example but not limited to, one, two, three, four, five,six, seven, eight, ten, and twelve.

The cranking motor 870 may include three terminals, a positive powerterminal 870 a, a control signal terminal 870 b, and a negative powerterminal 870 c. The positive power terminal 870 a may be configured toelectrically connect to a positive terminal of the main starting battery820 and/or a positive terminal of the supplemental starting system 810.The negative power terminal 870 c may be configured to electricallyconnect to a negative terminal of the main starting battery 820 and/or anegative terminal of the supplemental starting system 810. In anotherimplementation, for example in FIG. 9, the negative power terminal 870 cmay be configured to electrically connect to a ground, the negativeterminal of the main starting battery 820 may be also configured toconnect to the ground, and the negative terminal of the supplementalstarting system 810 may be also configured to connect to the ground.

The control signal terminal 870 b may be configured to electricallyconnect to one of the outputs from the engine starting control 840. Whena positive electrical voltage is received on the control signal terminal870 b, the first cranking motor 870 may be configured to begin cranking.In one implementation, the control signal terminal 870 b may control asolenoid/magnetic switch to connect an electric motor to the positivepower terminal 870 a so as to turn on the cranking motor. In oneimplementation, the control signal terminal 870 b may include an “S”terminal of a cranking motor.

Referring to FIG. 8, each of the outputs (842, 844, and 846) of theengine starting control 840 may connect to a control signal terminal ofeach of the one or more cranking motors (870, 872, and 874,respectively). In one implementation, the engine starting control 840may be configured to turn on the outputs in a sequential manner, so thatone cranking motor may begin cranking after another cranking motorfinishes cranking.

Referring to FIG. 8, the outputs (842, 844, and 846) of the enginestarting control 840 may feed into the supplemental starting system 810.The power from the outputs of the engine starting control 840 and/or thecontrol signal terminals of the cranking motors may be used as signal.In another implementation, the power from the outputs of the enginestarting control 840 and/or the control signal terminals of the crankingmotors may be provide power to start the supplemental starting system810. To prevent feedback or interference of one starting crankingmotor/engine to other cranking motors/engines, an isolator may be usedto isolate the control signals from each cranking motor.

Referring to FIG. 9, a system 900 may optionally include a main switchcontroller 830, so that an operator may select between the main startingbattery 820 and the supplemental starting system 810 to provide power tothe one or more cranking motors. In another implementation, the mainswitch controller may be configured so that an operator may selectbetween the main starting battery 820, the supplemental starting system810, or both the main starting battery 820 and the supplemental startingsystem 810 to provide power to the one or more cranking motors.

The main switch controller 830 may control the connections between thesupplemental starting system 810 and the main starting battery 820, andthe cranking motors. The main switch controller 830 may include one ormore battery switches to control the connections.

As an example but not a limitation, one embodiment of a main switchcontroller is described in FIG. 10A. The main switch controller 1000 mayinclude a rotary switch or a rotary relay 1040. The rotary switch mayinclude a common pole and two or more positions. In one implementation,the rotary switch 1040 may include a common pole 1044, a first position1041, a second position 1042, and a third position 1043. The common pole1044 may electrically connect to an output 1062 of the main switchcontroller, and the output 1062 may be configured to electricallyconnect to positive terminals of the cranking motors.

The first position 1041 of the rotary switch 1040 may electricallyconnect to an input 1012 of the main switch controller 1000, which maybe configured to connect to a positive terminal of the supplementalstarting system. As such, when the common pole 1044 connects to thefirst position 1041, the system is configured to use the supplementalstarting system to provide electric power to start the cranking motor.

The second position 1042 of the rotary switch 1040 may not electricallyconnect to either the supplemental battery or the main starting battery.As such, when the common pole 1044 connects to the second position 1042,the system is configured to be in a non-starting state, wherein neitherthe supplemental starting system nor the main starting battery mayprovide electrical power to start the cranking motor.

The third position 1043 of the rotary switch 1040 may electricallyconnect to another input 1014 of the rotary switch 1040, which may beconfigured to connect to a positive terminal of the main startingbattery. As such, when the common pole 1044 connects to the thirdposition 1043, the system is configured to use the main starting batteryto provide electric power to start the cranking motor.

One embodiment of a main switch controller is shown in FIG. 10B. Themain switch controller 1000 may include two rotary switches/relays 1040and 1080. any of the two rotary switches may include one or morepositions. For example, the rotary switch 1040 may include a common pole1044, a first position 1041, a second position 1042, and a thirdposition 1043. The rotary switch 1080 may include a common pole 1084, afirst position 1081, a second position 1082, and a third position 1083.The common poles 1044 and 1084 may electrically connect to an output1062 of the main switch controller, and the output 1062 may beconfigured to electrically connect to positive terminals of the crankingmotors.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the first position 1041 and the second position1042 of the rotary switch 1040 may electrically connect to a first input1012 of the main switch controller 1000, which may be configured toconnect to a positive terminal of a supplemental starting system. Thethird position 1043 of the rotary switch 1040 may electrically connectto a second input 1014 of the rotary switch 1040, which may beconfigured to connect to a positive terminal of a main starting battery.The second position 1082 of the rotary switch 1080 may electricallyconnect to the second input 1014, which may be configured to connect tothe positive terminal of the main starting battery.

Optionally, a main switch controller may be configured to select powerfrom a first input source ONLY, a second input source ONLY, or both thefirst and second input sources at the same time. The option of both thefirst and second input sources at the same time may have the benefit incircumstances where the first input source or the second input sourcealone does not have enough power to start a cranking motor.

In one implementation of FIG. 10B, the two rotary switches (1040 and1080) may be uncoupled so that they may be independently controlled by auser.

For example, the second rotary switch 1080 may connect to the firstposition 1081 or the third position 1083, and then, a user may switchthe first rotary switch 1040 to select power. The power may be from asupplemental starting system via a first input 1012 when the firstrotary switch 1040 connects to the first position 1041 or the secondposition 1042; and the power may be from a main starting battery via thesecond input 1014 when the first rotary switch 1040 connects to thethird position 1041.

For another example, the second rotary switch 1080 may connect to thesecond position 1082, and then, the user may switch the first rotaryswitch 1040 to select the power. The power may be from both thesupplemental starting system and the main starting battery when thefirst rotary switch 1040 connects to the first position 1041 or thesecond position 1042; and the power may be from the main startingbattery when the first rotary switch 1040 connects to the third position1041.

In another implementation of FIG. 10B, the two rotary switches (1040 and1080) may be mechanically coupled to each other and configured to beswitched to a same corresponding position at the same time, so that auser may switch the rotary switches to select the power. As such, whenthe two rotary switches (1040 and 1080) connects to their correspondingfirst positions (1041 and 1081), respectively, the power may be from thesupplemental starting system via the first input 1012. When the tworotary switches (1040 and 1080) connects to their corresponding secondpositions (1042 and 1082), respectively, the power may be from both thesupplemental starting system and the main starting battery via the firstinput 1012 and the second input 1014, respectively. When the two rotaryswitches (1040 and 1080) connects to their corresponding third positions(1043 and 1083), respectively, the power may be from the main startingbattery via the second input 1014.

The present disclosure describes one embodiment of a supplementalstarting system 1100 as shown in FIG. 11. The supplemental startingsystem may include a starting-signal isolator 1120, a resetting relay1130, a programmable logic controller (PLC) 1160, a supplemental batteryrelay 1140, a supplemental battery 1180, a positive output-terminal1192, and a negative output-terminal 391. In another implementation, thesupplemental starting system may include a portion of the abovecomponents. More detailed description of a PLC controlled supplementalstarting system is included in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/829,371filed on Aug. 18, 2015 by the same Applicant as the present applicationand U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/806,177 filed on Feb. 15, 2019by the same Applicant as the present application, both of which areincorporated herein by references in their entireties.

The starting-signal isolator 1120 may include one or more inputterminals (1120-1, 1120-2, and 1120-3) and an output terminal 1122. Eachof the one or more input terminals may be configured to connect to oneof the output signals from an engine starting control. Thestarting-signal isolator 1120 may output positive signal when one ofinput terminals has positive signal. The starting-signal isolator 1120may also isolate the one or more input terminals from each other so asto decrease interference signal between the input terminals. In oneimplementation, the positive signal may include a voltage larger than apredetermined threshold voltage. The predetermined threshold voltage maybe 1V, 2V, or 5V.

The resetting relay 1130 may solve a drawback that the PLC 1160 wouldsense the engine start event, the fluctuation in voltage, and initiatean error code as a potential fault in the system.

In one implementation, the resetting relay 1130 may have a coil pin86-2, a common pole pin 30-2, a normally close pin 87A-2, and a normallyopen pin 87-2. The resetting relay 1130 may be a relay having a normallyclose state, i.e, when the coil pin 86-2 is not energized, the commonpole pin 30-2 electrically connect to the normally close pin 87A-2. Theresetting relay 1130 may further have a ground pin connecting to aground.

The coil pin 86-2 may electrically connect to the output pin 1122 of thestarting-signal isolator 1120. Optionally, the common pole pin 30-2 maybe an input terminal for the supplemental starting system, and isconfigured to electrically connect to an engine ignition pin and receivesignal regarding whether the engine ignition switch is ON. In oneimplementation, when the engine ignition switch is ON, the common polepin 30-2 is energized with a high voltage. The high voltage may be anyvoltage larger than a predetermined threshold voltage. For example butnot limited to, the threshold voltage may be 1V or 2V, and the highvoltage may be 12V or 24V. In another implementation, when the engineignition switch is OFF, the common pole pin 30-2 is configured to have alow voltage. The low voltage may be any voltage no larger than 1V or 2V,for example but not limited to, 1V, 100 milliVolt (mV), and zero Volt.

Referring to FIG. 11, the PLC 1160 may have an input pin 1161electrically connecting to the normally close pin 87A-2 of the resettingrelay 1130, and an output pin 1162 electrically connecting to a coil pin1141 of the supplemental battery relay 1140. When the input pin 1161 isenergized with a high voltage, the PLC may be in a working state andperform its normal functions. When the input pin 1161 has a low voltage,the PLC may reset and/or reboot. The low voltage may be any voltage nolarger than 1V or 2V, for example but not limited to, smaller than 100milliVolt (mV) and zero Volt. When the PLC resets and/or reboots, thePLC may clear false error codes. Once the last engine has started, thePLC may take over and allow a charging process of the supplementalbattery 1180 to begin and/or to end a charging process of thesupplemental battery 1180 when a predetermined charging condition ismet.

The supplemental battery relay 1140 may have the coil pin 1141, a commonpin 1142, and a normally open pin 1143. When the coil pin 1141 isenergized with the high voltage, the supplemental battery relay 1140 isin a close state, wherein the common pin 1142 may electrically connectto the normally open pin 1143. When the coil pin 1141 has the lowvoltage or zero voltage, the supplemental battery relay 1140 is in anopen state, wherein the common pin 1142 may electrically disconnect fromthe normally open pin 1143.

Referring to FIG. 11, the common pin 1142 of the supplemental batteryrelay 1140 may electrically connect to the positive terminal 1182 of thesupplemental battery 1180. The normally open pin 1143 may electricallyconnect to the positive output-terminal 1192. A negative terminal 1181of the supplemental battery 1180 may electrically connect to thenegative output-terminal 1191. In another implementation, the negativeterminal 1181 of the supplemental battery 1180 may electrically connectto a ground of the system.

Optionally, the supplemental starting system 1100 may include asupplemental emergency starting switch 1110, which may control aconnection of electrical power from a terminal 1111 and a terminal 1112.The terminal 1111 may connect to the positive terminal of thesupplemental battery, and the terminal 1112 is configured to connect tothe coil pin 1141 of the supplemental battery relay 1140.

In one implementation, the supplemental emergency starting switch 1110may be a push button or a key switch, and may have an input pin 1111 andan output pin 1112. The input pin 1111 may connect to a positiveterminal 1182 of the supplemental battery 1180. When the supplementalemergency starting switch 1110 is depressed, the supplemental emergencystarting switch 1110 is set in a close state, in which the output pin1112 may electrically connect to the input pin 1111. When thesupplemental emergency starting switch 1110 is released, thesupplemental emergency starting switch 1110 is set in an open state, inwhich the output pin 1112 may electrically disconnect from the input pin1111. The supplemental emergency starting switch 1110 may be adouble-pole single-throw (DPST), a single-pole single-throw (SPST)switch, or any other types of switches to fulfill the functions asdescribed above.

Therefore, when the main battery power is insufficient, is too weak toenable a starting-signal from the engine starting control, or is unableto provide adequate power to the control signal terminal of a crankingmotor, the supplemental emergency starting switch 1110 may be pressed tosupply power from the supplemental battery 1180 to enable the system tostart.

Optionally, a transorb may be electrically disposed on the coil pin 1141of the supplemental battery relay 1140. A transorb may be a transientvoltage suppression diode, which may be used to protect sensitiveelectronics from voltage spikes induced by another source. The transorbwill shunt excessive current when the voltage of the terminals of thetransorb exceeds a certain preset level. In one implementation, thecertain preset level may be a voltage higher than the voltage of thesupplemental battery. For example but not limited to, the certain presetlevel may be 30V, 60V or 100V when the voltage of the supplementalbattery is 12V or 24V.

FIG. 12 describes an embodiment of a starting-signal isolator 1200. Foreach input, the starting-signal isolator 1200 may include an isolatingdevice, and the outputs from all isolating devices may be configured toconnect to an output 1240 of the starting-signal isolator 1200. Theisolating device may allow signals passing from its input terminal tooutput terminal, but may block signals passing from its output terminalto input terminal. Therefore, the isolating device may block feedbacksignals.

In one implementation, the starting-signal isolator 1200 may include oneor more inputs (1222, 1224, and 1226), and their corresponding isolatingdevices (1212, 1214, and 1216, respectively). For each isolating devices(1212, 1214, or 1216), its corresponding outputs (1232, 1234, or 1236,respectively) may connect to the output 1240 of the starting-signalisolator 1200. Therefore, when any of the inputs (1222, 1224, and 1226)has a high voltage, the output 1240 of the starting-signal isolator 1200may have a high voltage.

FIG. 13 describes one embodiment of a starting-signal isolator 1300including one or more isolating devices (1312, 1314, and 1316). Each ofone or more isolating devices (1312, 1314, and 1316) may include adiode. The diode, including an input and an output, may conduct electricsignal primarily from the input to output due to its asymmetricconductance: low or almost zero resistance in the direction from theinput to the output, and high or almost infinite resistance in thedirection from the output to the input.

Referring to FIG. 13, when one of the inputs (1222, 1224, and 1226) hasa high voltage and the rest of the inputs has a low voltage or zerovoltage, the output 1240 may have a high voltage. For one example, thefirst input 1222 has a high voltage and the second and third inputs(1224 and 1226) have a low voltage. The first diode 1312 may conductelectric signal from its input 1222 to its output 1232 because the firstinput 1222 has the high voltage. Therefore, the first output 1232 mayhave the high voltage. The second diode 1314 and the third diode 1316may block the feedback signal conduction from their correspondingoutputs (1234 and 1236, respectively) to their corresponding inputs(1224 and 1226, respectively) because the second and third inputs (1224and 1226) has the low voltage. Therefore, when one of the inputs (1222,1224, and 1226) has a high voltage, the output 1240 of thestarting-signal isolator 1300 may have the high voltage as well.

FIG. 14 describes another embodiment of a starting-signal isolatorincluding one or more isolating devices (1412, 1414, and 1416). Each ofone or more isolating devices (1412, 1414, and 1416) may include arelay. The relay, including an input and an output, may be normallyopen, and may conduct electric signal when the input has a high voltage.Therefore, the relay may have different conductance based on the input:when the input has a high voltage, low or almost zero resistance betweenthe input and the output, and when the input has a low or zero voltage,high or almost infinite resistance between the input and the output. Inone implementation, the relay my include a mini-cube relay, a singlepole single throw (SPST) relay, or a single pole double throw (SPDT)relay.

Referring to FIG. 14, when one of the inputs (1222, 1224, and 1226) hasa high voltage and the rest of the inputs has a low voltage or zerovoltage, the output 1240 may have a high voltage. For one example, thefirst input 1222 has a high voltage and the second and third inputs(1224 and 1226) have a low voltage. Because the first input 1222 has thehigh voltage, the first relay 1412 may be closed so that it conductselectric signal from its input 1222 to its output 1232, and thus, thefirst output 1232 may have the high voltage. Because the second andthird inputs (1224 and 1226) have the low voltage, the second relay 1414and the third relay 1416 may be in an open state so that theircorresponding outputs (1234 and 1236) may be blocked/disconnected totheir corresponding inputs (1224 and 1226), respectively. Therefore,when one of the inputs (1222, 1224, and 1226) has a high voltage, theoutput 1240 of the starting-signal isolator 1400 may have a high voltageas well.

The present disclosure may further describe an embodiment of astarting-signal isolator including one or more isolating devices,wherein the one or more isolating devices may include different types ofisolating devices, for example but not limited to, diodes or relays.

FIG. 15A describe one embodiment for a plug connector 1510 of astarting-signal isolator. The connector may include one or more pins,and each of the one or more pins may correspond to each isolating deviceof the starting-signal isolator. The connector 1510 may be mounted on apanel of the supplemental starting system. FIG. 15B describe areceptacle connector 1520 corresponding to the plug connector 1510. Thereceptacle connector 1520 may receive signals from an engine startingcontrol and may be configured to mate together with the plug connector1510. In one implementation, the connector may include 8 pins, forexample, a Deutsch 8-pin 14-16 AWG Flange connector.

The present disclosure describe one embodiment of a supplementalstarting system in FIG. 16. The supplemental starting system 1600 mayinclude a start signal isolator 1620, a resetting relay 1630, a PLC1660, a supplemental battery relay 1640, and a supplemental battery1680. The start signal isolator 1620 may receive signals from an enginestarting control and may include an output terminal which electricallyconnects to a coil pin of the resetting relay 1630 and a coil pin of thesupplemental battery relay 1640. The supplemental battery 1680 mayinclude a super capacitor battery.

Optionally, the supplemental starting system 1600 may include anemergency start switch 1610. Under the conditions that a main batterypower is not sufficient or too weak to enable an engine start signalthrough the engine start control to enable the supplemental startingsystem 1600, the emergency start switch 1610 may be used to supply abattery power from the supplemental battery 1680 to enable thesupplemental starting system 1600. When the emergency start switch 1610is closed, an input 1611 of the emergency start switch 1610 iselectrically connect to an output 1612 of the emergency start switch1610. The input 1611 may connect to a positive terminal 1682 of thesupplemental battery 1680 via a fuse 1685. The output 1612 may connectto the coil pin of the resetting relay 1630 and the coil pin of thesupplemental battery relay 1640.

The present disclosure also describe a method for providing asupplemental starting system to start one or more cranking motors. Themethod 1700 may include one or more of the following steps, as shown inFIG. 17. The supplemental starting system may be either one of thesupplemental starting systems described above or a combination of anyportion of one or more of the supplemental starting systems describedabove.

Step 1710: receiving, by a starting-signal isolator of a supplementalstarting system, wherein the starting-signal isolator is configured toconnect to one or more electrical starting signal wires which providestarting signal to one or more cranking motors.

Step 1720: when one of the one or more electrical starting signal wireshas the high voltage signal, outputting, by the starting-signal isolatorof the supplemental starting system, a high voltage signal.

Step 1730: setting a resetting relay in an open state, wherein theresetting relay electrically connects to the starting-signal isolator.

Step 1740: resetting a first programmable logic controller (PLC)electrically connects to the resetting relay.

Step 1750: setting a supplemental battery relay in a close state,wherein the supplemental battery relay electrically connects to thestarting-signal isolator and the PLC.

Step 1760: electrically connecting a positive terminal of a supplementalbattery to a positive output-terminal of the supplemental startingsystem.

Step 1770: providing electricity to start one of the one or morecranking motors.

The present disclosure describes the method further including one ormore of the following steps, as shown in FIG. 18.

Step 1810: electrically connecting, by an emergency starting switch ofthe supplemental starting system, a positive terminal of thesupplemental battery to the supplemental battery relay, so that thesupplemental battery relay is configured to be in the close state, andthe supplemental starting system is configured to providing electricityto one of the one or more cranking motors.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toillustrative embodiments, this description is not meant to be limiting.Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments and additionalembodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art from this description. Those skilled in theart will readily recognize that these and various other modificationscan be made to the exemplary embodiments, illustrated and describedherein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims willcover any such modifications and alternate embodiments. Certainproportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while otherproportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and thefigures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

1. A supplemental starting system for providing supplemental power tostart one or more engines, the supplemental starting system comprising:a first supplemental starting switch; a first resetting relayelectrically connecting to the first supplemental starting switch; afirst programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting to thefirst resetting relay; a first supplemental battery relay electricallyconnecting to the first supplemental starting switch and the first PLC;a supplemental battery comprising a positive terminal electricallyconnecting to the first supplemental battery relay; a first positiveoutput-terminal electrically connecting to the first supplementalbattery relay; a first negative output-terminal electrically connectingto a negative terminal of the supplemental battery; wherein when thefirst supplemental starting switch is in an close state, the firstresetting relay is configured to be in a close state, the first PLC isconfigured to reset, and the first supplemental battery relay isconfigured to be in a close state; and wherein when the firstsupplemental starting switch is in an open state, the first resettingrelay is configured to be in an open state and the first PLC isconfigured to be in a working mode.
 2. The supplemental starting systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the first resetting relay comprises: acoil pin electrically connecting to the first supplemental startingswitch; a common pole pin configured to receive an engine ignitionsignal; a normally close pin electrically connecting to the first PLC;and a normally open pin.
 3. The supplemental starting system accordingto claim 1, wherein the first PLC comprises: an input pin electricallyconnecting to the first resetting relay; and an output pin electricallyconnecting to the first supplemental battery relay.
 4. The supplementalstarting system according to claim 1, wherein the first supplementalstarting switch comprises: an input pin electrically connecting to apositive terminal of the supplemental battery; and an output pinelectrically connecting to the first resetting relay.
 5. Thesupplemental starting system according to claim 1, wherein the firstsupplemental starting switch comprises a push button switch; when thepush button switch is depressed, the first supplemental starting switchis in the close state; and when the push button switch is released, thefirst supplemental starting switch is in the open state.
 6. Thesupplemental starting system according to claim 1, wherein the firstsupplemental battery relay comprises: a coil pin electrically connectingto the first supplemental starting switch and the first PLC; a commonpin electrically connecting to a positive terminal of the supplementalbattery; and a normally open pin electrically connecting to the firstpositive output-terminal.
 7. The supplemental starting system accordingto claim 6, wherein: when the coil pin of the first supplemental batteryrelay has a high voltage, the first supplemental battery relay is in aclose state; and when the coil pin of the first supplemental batteryrelay has a low voltage, the first supplemental battery relay is in anopen state.
 8. The supplemental starting system according to claim 1,further comprising: a transorb disposed electrically between the firstsupplemental starting switch and the first supplemental battery relay.9-11. (canceled)
 12. The supplemental starting system according to claim1, further comprising: a second supplemental starting switch; a secondresetting relay electrically connecting to the second supplementalstarting switch; a second PLC electrically connecting to the secondresetting relay; a second supplemental battery relay electricallyconnecting to the second supplemental starting switch, the second PLC,and the positive terminal of the supplemental battery; a second positiveoutput-terminal electrically connecting to the second supplementalbattery relay; a second negative output-terminal electrically connectingto the negative terminal of the supplemental battery; wherein when thesecond supplemental starting switch is in an open state, the secondresetting relay is configured to be in a close state, the second PLC isconfigured to reset, and the second supplemental battery relay isconfigured to be in a close state; and wherein when the secondsupplemental starting switch is in a close state, the second resettingrelay is configured to be in an open state and the second PLC isconfigured to be in a working mode. 13-14. (canceled)
 15. A method forproviding a supplemental starting system to start at least one crankingmotor, the method comprising: setting a first supplemental startingswitch of a supplemental starting system in a close state; setting afirst resetting relay in an open state, wherein the first resettingrelay electrically connects to the first supplemental starting switch;resetting a first programmable logic controller (PLC) electricallyconnects to the first resetting relay; setting a first supplementalbattery relay in a close state, wherein the first supplemental batteryrelay electrically connects to the first supplemental starting switchand the first PLC; electrically connecting a positive terminal of asupplemental battery to a first positive output-terminal of thesupplemental starting system, wherein a negative terminal of thesupplemental battery is configured to connect to a first negativeoutput-terminal of the supplemental starting system; and providingelectricity to start a first cranking motor of a first engine, wherein apositive terminal of the first cranking motor is configured to connectto the first positive output-terminal of the supplemental startingsystem, and a negative terminal of the first cranking motor isconfigured to connect to the first negative output-terminal of thesupplemental starting system.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The method according toclaim 15, further comprising: setting the first supplemental startingswitch in an open state; setting the first resetting relay in a closestate; putting the first PLC in a working mode; and charging thesupplemental battery of the supplemental starting system.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 15, further comprising: setting a second supplementalstarting switch of the supplemental starting system in a close state;setting a second resetting relay in an open state, wherein the secondresetting relay electrically connects to the second supplementalstarting switch; resetting a second PLC electrically connecting to thesecond resetting relay; setting a second supplemental battery relay in aclose state, wherein the second supplemental battery relay electricallyconnects to the second supplemental starting switch and the second PLC;connecting the positive terminal of the supplemental battery to a secondpositive output-terminal of the supplemental starting system, whereinthe negative terminal of the supplemental battery is configured toconnect to a second negative output-terminal of the supplementalstarting system; and providing electricity to start a second crankingmotor of a second engine, wherein a positive terminal of the secondcranking motor is configured to connect to the second positiveoutput-terminal, and a negative terminal of the second cranking motor isconfigured to connect to the second negative output-terminal. 19-20.(canceled)
 21. A supplemental starting system for providing supplementalpower to start one or more cranking motors, the supplemental startingsystem comprising: a starting-signal isolator configured to connect toone or more electrical starting-signal wires providing starting signalto one or more cranking motors; a resetting relay electricallyconnecting to the starting-signal isolator; a programmable logiccontroller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay; asupplemental battery relay electrically connecting to thestarting-signal isolator and the PLC; a supplemental battery comprisinga positive terminal electrically connecting to the supplemental batteryrelay; a positive output-terminal electrically connecting to thesupplemental battery relay; and wherein when an output of thestarting-signal isolator is higher than a threshold voltage, theresetting relay is configured to be in a close state and thesupplemental battery relay is configured to be in a close state, so thatthe supplemental starting system is configured to provide electricity toone of the one or more cranking motors.
 22. The supplemental startingsystem according to claim 21, further comprising a negativeoutput-terminal electrically connecting to a negative terminal of thesupplemental battery. 23-24. (canceled)
 25. The supplemental startingsystem according to claim 21, wherein the starting-signal isolatorcomprises: one or more inputs of the starting-signal isolator, whereineach of the one or more electrical starting-signal wires is configuredto connect one of the one or more inputs of the starting-signalisolator; and one or more isolating devices, wherein each input of theone or more isolating devices connects to one of the one or more inputsof the starting-signal isolator, respectively, each output of the one ormore isolating devices connects to the output of the starting-signalisolator, and the one or more isolating devices are configured to blockelectrical feedback from the output of the one or more isolating devicesto the input of the one or more isolating devices. 26-28. (canceled) 29.The supplemental starting system according to claim 21, wherein theresetting relay comprises: a coil pin electrically connecting to theoutput of the starting-signal isolator; a common pole pin configured toreceive an engine ignition signal; a normally close pin electricallyconnecting to the PLC; and a normally open pin.
 30. (canceled)
 31. Thesupplemental starting system according to claim 21, further comprisingan emergency starting switch electrically connecting to the resettingrelay and the supplemental battery relay, and wherein when the emergencystarting switch is in a close state, the supplemental battery relay isconfigured to be in the close state, so that the supplemental startingsystem is configured to supply power to one or more cranking motors. 32.The supplemental starting system according to claim 31, wherein theemergency starting switch comprises: an input pin electricallyconnecting to the positive terminal of the supplemental battery; and anoutput pin electrically connecting to the resetting relay and thesupplemental battery relay.
 33. (canceled)
 34. The supplemental startingsystem according to claim 21, wherein the supplemental battery relaycomprises: a coil pin electrically connecting to the starting-signalisolator and the PLC; a common pin electrically connecting to thepositive terminal of the supplemental battery; and a normally open pinelectrically connecting to the positive output-terminal.
 35. Thesupplemental starting system according to claim 34, wherein: when thecoil pin of the supplemental battery relay has a high voltage, thesupplemental battery relay is in a close state; and when the coil pin ofthe supplemental battery relay has a low voltage, the supplementalbattery relay is in an open state. 36-40. (canceled)